Oversight Not an Oversight in New Great Lakes Legislation

Invasive species contribute to botulism outbreaks that kill have killed 8,000 loons and 60,000 other water birds. ~Enlarge

The news of a Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act proposal to wrap up federal spending on the Lakes in one package is welcome. So is the apparent inclusion of a mechanism to provide some public participation and accountability for the funding. As usual, I have a quibble.  The principal mechanism created in the bill is a "Great Lakes Leadership Council" that would include representatives of the feds, the states, municipalities, Tribes and "observers " -- apparently the public.  The others are leaders, the citizens are followers.

Then there's a new "advisory entity" called the Great Lakes Management Committee that is slightly broader and includes interest group reps, but no mention is made of the general public.  Maybe when the bill becomes available, that will not be the case.  It shouldn't be.